The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 257: what you’re looking at

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canna A ea ae THE MYSTERIES OF THH COURT. w46 tices ©) bave been very wicked—-but never never was I capable of such a crime as tliat no, never! My soul would have ablorred it.” “T believe you,” suviwered Mr. Redcliffe: “ for ceriain little incidents have come to iny khuowledge which tend more or less to euriab< aie sume pul’ tions of your narrative. Dexenibe tu me once more, as uccuratcly antl minutely as you car, the appearances of the two men whom--ae you allege e—vou sty on that fatal wight in company with Mr-. Wilhor the housekeeper.” Letty cid sos and Mr. Luleliffe inurmured to hiruself in tausing manner, “ Yes-~they ato the very same!” “ Do you-—do you think that there ia a prospect of my innucence being proved?” asked Lettice Wh an almost anguished eagerness. ‘1 hope eo,” responded Redcliffe: “but I chatge you not to indulge tog much ih & hope which mipht possibly be disappointed. Heaven ia tho disposer of all eventa; and ié is only by heaven's guflvrance that man can be permitted tu work them out to a particular end. I shall tell you nothing of the plans Tam adopting on ‘Your be- hell: auffice it for you to know that Fam not ulle.” “What ean I cay, Mr. Redcliffe,” asked Lettica, profoundly moved, “to couvince you of my grati- tude P? “JT am certain thaf you ate gratefe),” ho an- eswerel: “but it de not rratitude that I require —it is the assurance that yuu are traly pendent for thoso misdeeds that you dave committed. And in tha algo I boliove you. 1 Jearn from the governor 8 . ‘ sufhcient to convince me that you fulfilled the injunctions which I gave you on the oocvasion of my former visit.” “Oh, not for the world, Mr, Redcliffe, would I have necleeted them f exelalined Lettice, “ Phat infamous woman Madame Angelique came dowt frum London to see nia a few days after you were last eres but 1 refused to recoive hor. Then she erent an attorney residing at Liverpool, to offer to conduct my case: but I told the man of busttiess that L was fortunately not without friends-—and that even if 1 wore, I would uecept nothing af tha hands of Madame Anpolique.”’ “Theso partioulard I hetve leant frum the garernor,” remarked Mr. Redeliffe: “and T at . pleased to tind that you have thus fulfilled al my Insirnetions, able counsel has becn vetaiaed*for you ~-and as I have already hinted, Io am not idle in other respects. Ll have entrusted your case to the most eminent sdiciter in' Liverpool; and this afternoon ho will cai] upon vou to asceriain whether he lias correctly tiken down every detul of the statement which Imacie tim on your behalf. I purpore to | retain ta this neLbourhood for a few days; anid 1 shall seo you agai. But ere [ leave you on the present ovcaston, let ma repeat wy warntuiy,---that you indulge not tuo far in whatsoever hope I may have held out--~bat that sou fix your thoughts upon ¢hat heaven whese foreivencas yeu ao much mood [7 e Lettiee made a suntable answer; and then, as Mr. dteealiff’ was about tu leave her, she said, “Muay 1 hope, eir, that Madsaine Anvotique has not euccecded by othor meats in enticing away Lveleen from the home to which sen restored her P” ‘‘ No,” answered Mr, Bedoliffe: “ Eveleon w a, Ws Ae a ad QPaant eee ewe eee we we = Your trial will come on shdrtls 2! EA RSE RE. TS or RTS | Pann oO ARGS cna ve ey pa ILS TREN aris: aA fwith her parents. She is fully wpon her guard agninet the machinations of that vile woman; and ] uave no fear that she till either relapse into errot, or become the victim of any new snare.” Mr. Redcliffe then touk iis departure, accom. panied by the heartfelt gratitude of the penitent Lettice Rodney. While this interview was taking plate between the philanthropist and the prisuncr, the following cufiversation was being held in the grounds of i handsome eountry-seat, about four miles fron Livetpoul, That couutry-seat? was the ubode cof Sir Willtam Stanley; and the discourse to which we have just alluded, was progicssing octween tins gentleman and his son. Captain Stanley had only urrived within the same hour at the paterpe! man- sign,~-wheré he was to sperd a few weeks, he having dbtdined lexve of absence from his reyi- itient. We have already said he was about twen' y- four years of age: we may add that he was a hauce sume young man—af the middle boight~—well wade—apnd of panteel firrure. Ho was steady in his conduct-——eudowed with High notions of honous —Of génercus dispositiun—-and of considerable intellectual Acquirements. Ue hada good parent: but he himself was a son of whom any father wilt be proud, © And who is-this Mr. Redcliffe whom you ara expecting to-day FP” inguired Captain Stanley, ag he sauntered with bir William through (he gpa. clous and well laid-out grounds attached to the rantion,—which we, nidy as well obserwe bure the name of Stanley Hall. “Do you not remember, ty dear Roberi, bow L was indebted to a gallant Kogisbman fur my lie when traversing the [Indian junele --——” “Can I, my dear father, ever forget an occur- rence which, wheti £ read it, caused me for the muiubent as inuch croel terror ag if £ had indeed lust you—but which the nest instant was suc- ceeded by as thrillng a joy at the certainty of your escapeP You huwevor umitted in sour letter ty specify the wawe of tho valorous Enelishnian who reagued you from thoae blovithissty Thurs and after your retuta to Eozlaud you never happened to mention it.” “That gentleman, then,” rejoined Sur Wiliam, “is the Mr. Redcliffo who will be with us pre- sontly,’* “And most heartily shall I grasp) the haud of my father’s delivercr!” exclaimed the Cuptain, “Sincerely do I hope, tvo, that he wall remain with ys some while: for Ais is a fricndship which [ shall he proud to cultivate.” “You will have the opportunity,” replied Sir William Stanley: “for according to the Ietter which I received from Mr. Redcliffe this morning, he purposes t remain with ua a few dave; andl | know that he will be here again shortly, before your leave of absence expires,--inasmuch as ho takes considerable interest in a case which has Cuused great exeitemént in our nei¢tibourbood, and Which will be brought forward at the approaching Aassizes-——~-[ mean that of the accused youuy wumin, Lettice Rodney.” ‘ “Ah! that reminds ae, wy dear “father,” ox- Claimed the Captmp, “that when you wrote to me sono time ago upon the subject, you hinted that you were nut quite su convinced as other per- suns scvmed to be, of the prisoner's guilt.” CO NOG SS CO